When life hands you lemons, turn to the Lemon Dessert Collection. These 12+ lemon desserts feature bright lemon citrus flavor in the form of cookies, cakes, pies, and more. Classic recipes like lemon bars and lemon cupcakes and fancy favorites like lemon pudding cakes and lemon cheesecake promise dessert success for bakers of all skill levels.
If you love bright, fresh desserts, lemon is hard to beat. This vibrant citrus fruit turns simple ingredients into sweet-tart treats that taste like pure sunshine. ๐
My team and I have shared many lemon dessert recipes over the years, and you can find them all by searching the “lemon” ingredient page on my website! (You can browse various ingredients on the ingredients index page.)
But the list below highlights 12 of our favorite. These are go-to, meticulously tested lemon dessert recipes that we return to again and again.
If youโre craving something ultra creamy and refreshing, this 7-ingredient creamy lemon pie is always a winner. It includes a salty-sweet crust, is very simple to make, and tastes like the lemon cousin of key lime pie! It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert.
Youโll find a mix of classic lemon desserts and a few unique favorites in this collection. Some recipes are quick and simple, like these oatmeal lemon crumble bars, while others are perfect for when you want to bake something a little more special, like the always-impressive lemon meringue pie.
No matter which one you choose, each recipe is carefully tested so you can count on bright lemon flavor and reliable results every time.
And if you really love lemon flavor, keep a batch of homemade lemon curd on handโitโs delicious on yogurt, ice cream, scones, toast, and so much more.
Bookmark this list for the next time youโre craving a little lemon in your dessert!
More Spring Baking Inspiration
Fresh spring flavors when the weather warms up!
12 Favorite Lemon Desserts
Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Buttercream
This 3-layer lemon cake is deliciously moist and light and is remarkable paired with tangy cream cheese buttercream.
Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
These are the BEST lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust and creamy thick lemon curd filling that doesn’t require any pre-cooking on the stovetop.
Iced Lemon Pound Cake
Dense, buttery pound cake gets a lemon lift in this bright and cheery citrus version that’s topped with a light yet creamy lemon icing.
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
These lemon thumbprints are a lemon lovers’ dream cookie! Enjoy sweet, soft lemon sugar cookies filled with from-scratch lemon curd and drizzled with lemon icing.
Lemon Cheesecake Recipe
Savor every sweet-tart taste of the creamiest, dreamiest cheesecake flavored with fresh lemon, nestled between a buttery graham cracker crust and a layer of homemade lemon curd.
Soft & Moist Lemon Cupcakes
My go-to lemon cupcake for well over a decade! If youโre looking for an easy lemon cupcake recipe thatโs moist, tender, and reliable, your search ends here.
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
These are ultra creamy (and super easy!) lemon blueberry cheesecake bars baked on a crispy graham cracker crust.
Oatmeal Lemon Crumble Bars
Creamy, crumbly, and refreshing, these oatmeal lemon crumble bars come together with a simple crumb crust and a 2-ingredient lemon filling.
Lemon Pudding Cakes
With fluffy lemon cake on top and rich lemon pudding on the bottom, these lemon pudding cakes promise unique complementing textures and plenty of fresh flavor in each bite.
Lemon Berry Yogurt Cake
This incomparably moist lemon berry yogurt cake has a soft, creamy, and buttery crumb; is bursting with bright lemon and fresh berry flavors; and is conveniently decorated with a simple drizzle of lemon glaze.
Classic Lemon Meringue Pie
With a flaky homemade pie crust, tart and smooth lemon filling, and fluffy toasted meringue topping, this lemon meringue pie is impossible for lemon fans to resist.
Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes
These lemon blueberry cupcakes are supremely soft and moist with fresh lemon flavor and sweet blueberries in every single bite, plus a silky cream cheese frosting to finish it off.
Lemon Berry Petit Fours (For Beginners!)
Petit fours, which are delicate mini cakes, can often be complicated and fussy, but this is a simplified petit fours recipe that’s perfect for beginners and lemon fanatics alike.
Creamy Lemon Pie
You need just 7 ingredients and only 20 minutes of hands-on time to make this! Make this ahead and serve chilled. Delicious!
Reader Comments and Reviews
Hi Sally. There is a picture at the beginning of the post, second one maybe, that looks like a mixed berry scone. Do you have the recipe for that? Thanks!
Hi Cindy, those are made with this base scone recipe, with added fresh berries (you can also use frozen). Enjoy!
Hi Sally
Thank you SOOOO MUCH for this lemon collection!
I have made the lemon squares! superb!!!!
Made my Day. I look forward to trying them all
Super exceited
ann C.
I have been making so many of your recipes for years and bake them over and over again. I get so many compliments and just love to bake.
I am going to try your Irish soda bread this week. I have been very successful on all your great recipes. I am an addictive baker! Itโs a stress reliever for me. My friends love to come by and taste all my goodies! Keep up the great work. You are my go-to site!
Hi Joani! Thank you so much for baking and sharing so many of my recipes over the years. I love hearing that baking is such a great stress reliever for you… it is for me, too! I hope you enjoy the Irish soda bread this week. Thanks again for your kind words and for making my recipes part of your kitchen!
I was wondering if these recipes are in your cookbook
Hi Melodie! These are all exclusive to my website. I have a few other lemon treats in my book, including lemon curd tart, strawberry lemon drops, and a blueberry bundt cake with lots of lemon flavor.
Your recipes are so inviting. I want to make so many of these. Thank you for sharing and inadvertently learning to bake.
Wha flavor scones is under the lemon curd? Is the recipe published somewhere where.e?
Hi Jenice! It’s this scone recipe with fresh mixed berries as the add-in.
Thankyou so much but I made your lemon pie instead at least 20 times already once its done its gone in 20minutes time,I even add whipping cream to it its so delicious.
Just made the Lemon Pistachio loaf this weekend. Everyone loved it!
It’s absolutely one of my new favorites!!
I have made your lemon pistachio loaf 3 times in 2 weeks! Everyone loves it!
So happy to read this, Karen!
This collection of lemon deserts is heaven on earth. There is nothing better in Spring than citrusy, lemony goodness.
Thank you.
Sheri V.
I love anything with lemon in it!
Itโs not on this list but your lemon blueberry tart is my go-to dessert for almost any event.
And your lemon buttercream recipe is truly the best out there!!
Thank you so much, Amy!